Starting at 9:00pm EST I'll be here with you to provide live results and updates from UFC Fight Night. The event is broadcast on Spike TV so most of you have access to watch it. Don't let that stop you from being here to read my thoughts and share your own.
One rule, as always, no posting prelim results. We don't know what fights will or won't be shown should time allow on the broadcast and I don't want to spoil them for anyone.
So check back at 9:00pm EST, hit the refresh button for updates, and throw your own thoughts in the comments.
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The Spike TV broadcast has started...
Nate Diaz vs. Alvin Robinson - Round 1 - I've gotta say Nate looks in really good shape heading into the fight. Diaz with a left hand and Robinson jumps to guard allowing Diaz to slam him hard. Robinson pivots his hips from the bottom but eats some elbows. Robinson grabs a guillotine and Diaz slams him back down only falling deeper into the choke. He's in half guard so not in as much trouble as he could be, and Robinson lets him out. Diaz pounds from the top position. Nate passes to side control. Going for mount Robinson reverses to top and Diaz grabs an omoplata, which he uses to sweep back to top. Robinson sweeps back to end up in top position. Robinson throws some right hands from the top. Diaz keeps his guard active and locks a deep triangle and Alvin has no choice but to top. Luke was right, I slept on Diaz's BJJ. Nate Diaz wins by submission (triangle choke) Rd. 1
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Thiago Tavares - Round 1 - 4-5 vs. 16-1...that looks really bad on paper. The people I'm watching with are all saying "what? that's a missmatch!" Feeling out to start the round. Omigawa comes forward and Tavares takes him down with a single. Tavares picks Omigawa up and walks him across the ring before dropping him back down. Omigawa works elbows from the bottom and Thiago tries a leg lock but immediatel gives up. Thiago uses the momentum of a judo toss attempt to take Omigawa's back. Tavares works some shots from the back and Omigawa tries to stand up as Tavares continues to ride his back. Tavares works a single and uses it to get Omigawa's back again. Good takedown from the back but Omigawa is able to end up on top in Tavares' guard. Thiago with some punches from the bottom and Omigawa stands up and drops a few hands and leg kicks. Nice end of the round for Omigawa but Tavares takes the round with his back control throughout the round. 10-9 Tavares on my card. Round 2 - Omigawa wants to stand and is able to fight off a few takedown attempts before a single leg scores for Tavares. No real damage done and they end up back standing. Omigawa fends off another takedown attempt and again Tavares works the single. Right hands land for both fighters. High kick lands but it was just the tip of the foot, not shin. Overhand right lands good for Tavares and that one punch could cement the round. The crowd is turning on the fight and the boos have started. Right hand lands for Tavares and he shoots and gets the takedown off of the punch. No real effective work from the top and they end up back standing. The round ends and it's another 10-9 round for Tavares on my card (20-18 total). Round 3 - Omigawa is trying to press the action on the feet but again Tavares with the takedown attempt. He works Omigawa to the ground but again, not much work being done other than an occasional right hand. Omigawa is being more active from the bottom than Thiago from the top. Right hand by Thiago as Omigawa was trying to get up and Omigawa reverses to get top position. Tavares is killing his marketability with this performance. Leg kick and a big falling right hand by Omigawa as Tavares tries to work an upkick. Omigawa passes to side control and looks for a choke, and he is bleeding from an upkick that landed. Omigawa is forcing the action here but he isn't going to win the fight with this. 10-9 round for Omigawa (29-28 Tavares total) on my card. 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27 all for Tavares. Thiago Tavares wins by unanimous decision.
Joe Rogan is talking to Sylvester Stalone...because...they don't have any fights they could be showing or anything. That being said, I'll go see Rambo this weekend.
Patrick Cote vs. Drew McFedries - Round 1 - They come out banging, good leg kick from McFedries, and Cote lands a left hook. They clinch and Drew lands a knee and gets back outside. Right hand on the break from Cote lands flush as does a jab to the body. Nice sharp combo by Cote is answered with a good leg kick by McFedries. Cote is keeping a good distance but McFedries lands a great right. Uppercut by Cote hurts McFedries and Patrick turns up the heat pounding McFedries who is slumped up against the cage covering up and Herb Dean is forced to step in. Patrick Cote wins by TKO Rd. 1. Cote has a damn good chin as he got clipped good before the flurry that ended the fight. Cote is starting to figure things out and is still young enough to do some big things.
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Alberto Crane - Round 1 - We get some prelim action here. I picked this to be fight of the night, Nate said it would be a stallfest. Crane lands a high kick that rocks Kurt and went for a guillotine but "Batman" is able to get out. Crane works for shoulder and armlocks from the bottom but Pellegrino is able to defend. They're back to standing and Kurt lands a few punches. Pellegrino looks to be re-establishing himself as the better standup fighter, using decent combinations. Takedown attempt is defended by Crane. Pellegrino goes to the body with a right hand. Jabs and leg kicks are starting to land for Kurt. Alberto is stuck going backward and as he tries to come forward Pellegrino lands a nice uppercut and a few other shots that seem to hurt Alberto. Overhand right lands for Pellegrino as does a right hand. Hip toss takes Crane down and Pellegrino ends the round on top after surviving an early scare. 10-9 round by Pellegrino on my card. Round 2 - Crane needs to try to get the fight back to the ground and he knows it as he tries a single leg to start the round. Crane continues working for the takedown for over a minute. Crane transfers to try to take Pellegrino's back but Kurt reverses to end up on top. Pellegrino stands over Crane and lands a good diving right hand. Crane closes his eyes, covers his face and rolls over. As Pellegrino lands a few shots Herb Dean stops the fight as Crane was not defending himself. Kurt Pellegrino wins via TKO Rd. 2 Pellegrino shows off the huge hole in his bottom lip where his teeth went straight through. You can see the inside of his mouth through the hole...nasty stuff. The UFC has had some brutal cuts in the last few shows.
Now Joe is talking to some comedians about Vince Vaughn's Wild West Road Show. This is such a waste of time. They could at least show highlights of fights that they won't have time to show in their entirety. Or at least read the prelim results. Anything but these stupid wastes of time with people no one gives a shit about.
Mike Swick vs. Josh Burkman - Round 1 - They circle to open the round, Burkman looks to maintain distance before shooting in for a body lock. Overhook/underhook as Burkman throws some knees to the legs and body. Swick reverses and has Burkman pushed against the cage standing. They are restarted in the middle of the octagon, but quickly end up in the same position. Swick tries for the guillotine but Burkman takes him down for a few seconds before they end up back on the feet. Swick needs to use distance and make Burkman pay when he rushes in. Body shot lands for Burkman but he jumped in to throw it, which is a good way to get KO'ed. Burkman lands a good left hook and actually is the one landing the better shots, and now a spinning kick attempt from Josh. Swick looks a bit out of his game and Burkman is starting to get loose. The round comes to an end and Burkman has won the round 10-9 easy on my card. Round 2 - Burkman is the one throwing combos and lands a spinning backfist at the end of one. Again they're body locked against the cage this time it's Josh's back up against the fence. High kick lands for Swick and Burkman looks a little hurt but Swick doesn't force the action and Burkman is able to punch his way into a bodylock against the cage...again. Swick is adjusting his shorts A LOT which is distracting. First real punch flurry by Swick and he is starting to show the striking skills that we are used to. Burkman's right hand is really low and his corner is yelling at him to fix it. Left hands land for both fighters and again Burkman gets the body lock against the fence. They are broken and restarted in the center. Burkman charges in and Swick defends a takedown attempt. Burkman looks to be gassing a little bit here. The round ends and while close I give it to Swick 10-9. My card is at 19-19. Round 3 - Burkman with a high kick/spinning back fist combo. They're locked up against the fence again and the boos are starting. Right hands by both fighters but Burkman looked to get the better of the exchange. Swick's takedown defense is solid but he needs to do a little bit more than that to pull the fight out. Really solid leg kick lands for Mike. The round is open to be won but neither guy is doing enough work. Strikes are being thrown but blocked by both men. Swick is forced to defend another takedown and the boos start again. 1:07 left and they are restarted in the center again. Burkman is trying to throw Anderson Silva back elbows but they aren't landing. Swick lands a knee as Burkman comes in, but it doesn't stop Josh from grabbing a body lock against the fence. 10 seconds left and nothing happens but another body lock. Boo's from the crowd greet the final bell. Neither guy looked good, Swick's striking wasn't there and Burkman couldn't get a takedown. Rogan made a good point that Swick doesn't look right and it could be the cut to 170. 10-9 Burkman I guess in the final round. (29-28 Burkman on my card) Official Cards: 29-28, 29-28, 29-29 all for Mike Swick. Mike Swick wins by unanimous decision. Swick said he overcut over the past few weeks walking around at 179/180. Crowd is letting fly with brutal booing.
Prelim Results:
- Matt Wiman defeated Justin Buchholz by Rear Naked Choke Rd. 1
- Corey Hill defeated Joe Veres by TKO (ref stoppage - punches) Rd. 1
- Jeremy Stephens defeated Cole Miller by TKO (ref stoppage - punches)
- Gray Maynard defeated Dennis Siver by unanimous decision